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3x3: Piano Trios, vol. V
Nick Sanders Trio Playtime 2050 Sunnyside Records 2019 Nick Sanders understandably sees some turbulence ahead at the midpoint of the century (not to mention the decades leading up to it). Disturbing as this cover may seem, though, he and a couple adventurous trio- mates make sure this speculative portrait keeps its focus on the figurative playground. Their sequence of brief musical snapshots covers a wide range of feels with liveliness and try-anything abandon above ...
read moreBeresford Hammond: Circle Inside The Folds
Circle Inside the Folds is the fourth album on The 52nd label featuring the duo of guitarist, pianist and vocalist Charlie Beresford with classically-trained cellist Sonia Hammond, following The Science of Snow (2014), The Lightning Bell (2016)--on which the duo were joined by Beresford's Fourth Page band mate pianist Carolyn Hume and guest vocalist Judie Tzuke--and Each Edge of the Field (2017). Where those three previous CDs came packaged in atmospheric monochrome photographs by Beresford's partner in The 52nd label, ...
read moreElder Ones, "From Untruth," and a Threat Called New York: An Essay
If what we witness today; rabid expansion of capital and with it, growing class difference, and a renewed interest in Marx; if these were testimony to one thing, it would be Derrida's spook of a wager from his seminal Specters de Marx. Indeed, neo-liberal/conservative sham thinkers such as Fukuyama today find shelter no longer in Hegel, or Nietzsche, whose thorny crown has been casually re-abducted by the Right and moralist “blockheads," e.g. Peterson, but of all in Marx, this time ...
read moreEllen Rowe Octet: Momentum
At a time when women are gaining more prominence in every field, it's no surprise there are more and more all-female jazz groups popping up. This particular octet, led by pianist Ellen Rowe, takes that a step farther with a CD that delves into women's history. They have recorded a set of Rowe compositions that honor women from the worlds of politics, arts, sports and science who have inspired her. The album begins with “Ain't I A Woman," ...
read moreBegin the Begin: R.E.M.'s Early Years
Begin the Begin: R.E.M.'s Early Years Robert Dean Lurie 288 pages ISBN: #978-1891241680 Verse Chorus Press 2019 Coming from the unusual angle of a repatriated Southerner by the name of Robert Dean Lurie, Begin The Begin is a fast and fascinating read devoted to the formative period, including the first flush(es) of success that occurred during R.E.M.'s Early Years. As is the case with the best book covers, this one featuring Joanna Schwartz' ...
read moreBonsai: Bonsai Club
Bonsai, under their previous moniker Jam Experiment, released one eponymous and extremely good, self-produced CD in 2017. In their new incarnation, they have replaced saxophonist Alexander Bone with violinist / vocalist Dominic Ingham. (To avoid ambiguity, Dominic and trombonist brother Rory—winner of Rising Star in the 2017 British Jazz Awards—will be referred to as DI and RI in this review.) Opening with “Bonsai Club," the vocals are the most noticeable aspect of the track. Efficient, but not spectacular, ...
read moreLuís Lopes: Guillotine
Many people know the opening lines of Charles Dickens' A Tale Of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." But how many remember the author goes on to report on an age of wisdom/foolishness, an epoch of belief/incredulity, a season of light/darkness and the spring of hope/winter of despair? He certainly could be writing about recycling/climate warming, diversity/white supremacists and tolerance/religious extremists. Revolution is a suitable topic for Portuguese guitarist Luís ...
read more50th Anniversary Blue Notes for April & More
April 1969 saw Blue Note recording some 'Brazilian' jazz, soulful tunes and two 'spiritual' jazz sessions—a very broad palette. Some are fantastic and some mundane. Listen and see what you think. Also a few other 50th anniversary bits, Blue Note #9 and a tad more. Enjoy the show.
read moreEtienne Mbappe: Silky Master of the 4th Dimension
Etienne Mbappe plays bass so smoothly that you could imagine he wears silk gloves--and you would be correct. In fact he is the only musician in the world who has an endorsement deal with a silk glove manufacturer. He is a musician's musician, a world class bassist based in Paris. Originally from Cameroon in Western Africa, he began his musical career in Paris in the 80s, playing with the leading names on the African music scene. He toured with the ...
read moreBill Evans and Wes Montgomery: Masters At Work
Any and every respectable collection of jazz music, whether digital or physical, should contain at least some of the works of pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Wes Montgomery. Icons of their respective instruments, both musicians also created varied ensemble templates of adventurous modern jazz, and while it is true many are already available in the marketplace, it's fairly safe to say none are any more lovingly or lavishly produced and packaged than a recent pair released on the Resonance label. ...
read moreTorben Westergaard: Kirsebærsne
Torben Westergaard is nothing if not restless. Latin music has been the defining element of his career to date, though explorations such as his Tangofied series have also happily bridged music and musicians of South America with those of his native Europe. This album's immediate predecessor, Heart Tunes (self-produced, 2018), made a detour into straightforward sunny dub-ambient territory. Where does a curious bassist go after that, one might ask? If you guessed “the world of children's music," give ...
read moreFire! Orchestra: Arrival
The ancient Zen art of decluttering has found modern favour as a mindful practice. Letting go of things is, perhaps, a way of breaking with the past. In the years since its inception, the Nordic big band Fire! Orchestra has jettisoned about half its original cast. Now down to a mere fourteen members, the outfit has accordingly made its most spacious album yet. The core trio of musical director / saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, bassist Johan Berthling and drummer ...
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Jazz Story
By Connie Lansberg
Member since: 2010
As a songwriter and vocalist, I love jazz for the experience of being in the center of intense creativity. It is the most potent form of music for keeping the artist and the audience in the 'now”
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